Bearing



W. T. HURTT Aug. 2, 1938.

BEARING Filed on. 1, i936 INVENTOK flab-M 14m- BY MW 11 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEARING William T. Hurtt, 'Wilkinsburg, Pa. Application October 1, 1936, Serial No. 103,551

2 Claims.

My invention relates to bearings and particularly to fluid-lubricated bearings for apparatus of various characters.

One object of my invention is to prevent contaminating impurities from entering a bearing housing from the outside and at the same time preventing leakage of lubricant from the bearing proper.

Another object of my invention is to provide fluid pressure means, preferably of a low pressure pneumatic type, to prevent, either separately or simultaneously, ingress along a rotatable member such as a journal to a portion of a bearing structure or housing, particularly the portion adjacent the end of the bearing member, from either direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a housing having a cavity next to a portion of a bearing member enclosed thereby and introduce fluid under pressure, preferably low pressure gas. into the cavity for sealing out water or other foreign matter and sealing in lubricating material for the bearing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character just set forth, together with simple and effective apparatus for venting such fluid or gas under pressure to prevent an accumulation of pressure.

While my present invention is particularly adapted for application to rolling mill bearings, I desire it to be understood that other bearings and similar structures may also embody my invention to advantage.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a view, partially in section, of a bearing structure and rotatable member organ- *0 ized in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the invention; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus shown in the preceding figures.

Referring to the drawing, the structure here shown comprises, in the case of Figs. 1 and 3, a roll I for rolling mill application, for example, having a neck or journal 2 and which-may have a projecting end portion 3 of a usual character.

A bearing structure 4 supports the journal 2, be-

ing preferably of a sleeve type as indicated at 5, and outer housing sections proper l and la therefor may be secured in place by suitable bolts lb, as shown in Fig. 3. While I have shown, for purposes of simple illustration, a two-piece housing,

I desire it to be understood that a single-piece or other form of housing may be used, if desired.

A suitable oil inlet 8 and oil outlet 9 for the bearing are provided, as hereinafter more fully described, and, in particular, a cavity or opening 5 I0 is provided at the left-hand end of the journal and another cavity or opening H at the right- I hand end thereof for effectingthe application of low pressure air or other gas from a suitable inlet l2, such air or gas passing from said cavi- 10 ties into the main part of the housing and being vented through pipes or openings l3.

The bearing 5 maybe of any well known type including a babbitted or other suitable surface 6 for contacting the journal 2, while the housing 15 sections 1 and la may also be of a familiar character, with the exception of the provision for the inlet of air, gas or other fluid under pressure to the cavities l0 and 'l I. It will be understood tha my invention may readily be incorporated, if de- 20 sired, in any other form of bearing such as roller or ball bearings.

The oil inlet 8 leads in any suitable way through the housing section I and bearing 5 to one or more openings l5 (only one being shown) adjacent to 2.1 the journal 2, this oil inlet passage being preferably located, as shown, in the upper section of the bearing structure, while the oil outlet 9 is associated with suitable passages It at opposite ends of the bearing to permit drainage through 30 such passages and through the common passage in the housing that communicates with the oil outlet 9. In this way. suitable circulation of oil, which may be purified as usual before being recirculated, is provided. Since the oil circulating 35 system constitutes no part of my present invention, no further description thereof is deemed to be necessary.

In order to provide the air pressure cavity I II at the left-hand side of the housing structure I, I 40 have provided a plurality of suitable retainers ll which, together with backing springs l8, fit into suitable recesses in one vertical end surface and one horizontal end surface of the housing section 1, thereby closing off a space designated as III with 45- roll neck, although, if desired, this cavity might extend only part of the way around these members or separate spaced cavities l0 might be employed. The retainers I'I may be as shown in Fig. 55

1, or may be'of any other familiar character, and may bemade of, soft metal, leather, raw hide,

vfiber, carbon, flax or felt, for example, thus serving to permit only a minimum of air leakage from the cavity l0.

At the other or' open end of the bearing, another form of annular cavity H is provided, whereby two annular flanges I3 and 20 are formed, preferabiy entirely surrounding the journal 2. The flange I! thus separates oil outletpassage' l6 from the cavity 1 I, while the flangell separates cavity H from the outside atmosphere. Fluid under pressure, preferably air, is admitted to the cavity II from air inlet l2 and passage 23 in the bearing housing section 1. Suitable retainers, such as leather strips l4, bolted or otherwise secured to the walls of'cavity I], may also be installed to permit only a minimum of air leakage out of the cavity.

To prevent an accumulation of pressure within the central portion of bearing housing, passages 24 and. 25 communicate with the surface of the.

journal 2 at the ends of the bearing and extend upwardly through the housing section I to communicate with the respective outlets i3 which are suitably constructed, as by being bent backward, as shown, to deflect any foreign matter such as a spray of water, thus preventing it from entering the bearing housing.

The operation of my invention may be described as follows: Suitable iiuid under low pressure, preferably air, is admitted to pipe l2 during .the operation of the illustrated roll, thus providing a steady, although minimum, leakage of air past the two retainers I! (in the case of cavity I0) to the atmosphere in the one direction and to the passage 24 in the other direction; and similarly with respect to retainers l4 in'the case of cavity II. In this way, water or other foreign matter from the outside is prevented from entering the housing, since the flowof air is in the opposite direction, and by the same token, the leakage of oil or other lubricant out of the bearing housing is prevented, since the flow of air is likewise in such a direction as to prevent this.

An accumulation of fluid pressure within the central portion of the bearing housing is prevented by reason of the vents I3 which suitably discharge such fluid or air to the outside atmosphere.

The bearing structure shown in Fig. 2 is of a similar character comprising a shaft 'or axle 21 which is enclosed by a bearing structure 28 ineluding a bearing section proper 25 and outer housing sections preper 30 and 30a. As in the case of the structure shown in Fig. 1, an oil inlet pipe 3| with suitable internal passages and an oil outlet pipe 32 with suitable internal passages are provided.

Annular cavities 33 are provided at each end of the housing, thus corresponding to the cavities ll shown in Fig. 1, these cavities communicating with air inlet p pe 34 for the purpose already set forth. Suitable retainers 35, similar to the retainers ll of Fig. 1, are preferablysecured to the walls of cavities 33, to permit only a minimum of the same time the leakage of lubricating oil from the housing may be prevented.

While I haveshown two forms of my invention,

I do not wish to be limited to the specific struc-. tures or arrangements of part'sthereof, as various other modifications of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I desire, therefore, that only such limi tations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a rotatable memberand a lubricated bearing therefor having a cavity therein next to a surface of said member of retainers contacting said member to form the ends of said cavity, and means for introducing gaseous fluid under pressure into said cavity, said retainers permitting a minimum of leakage of fluid along. said member from said cavity.

2. The combination with a rotatable member and a lubricated bearing therefor having a cavity 1 therein next to a surface of said member, of retainers contacting said member to form the ends of said cavity, means for introducing fluid under 7 pressure into said cavity, said retainers permitting of pressure therein.

' a minimum of leakage of fluid from said cavity, I and means for venting leakage fluid from the inte- -jrior of said bearing to prevent an accumulation 

